Well pump operating mechanism



Aug; 15, 1939. E. w. PATTERSON WELL PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov.19,1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO o INVENT R. Yam? w mrri/w/v BY Q WN. 9M

RNEYS.

Aug. 15, 1939. E. w. PATTERSON WELL PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov.19,1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x INVENTOR. 0642 h/ Pif/fAJO/V BY I ATTORNEYS.

Aug. I5, 1939. E. w, PATTERSON 2,169,315

I WELL PUMP- OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet a 2INVENTOR.

. u BY I ATTORNEYS.

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WELL PUMP OPERATING MECHANISM Edgar W. Patterson, Long Beach, Calif.

Application November 19, 1935, Serial No. 50,541

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a pump, and particularly pertains to a wellpump construction es pecially adapted for use in deep wells, such as oilwells, and is a continuation-in-part of my pending application entitledWell pump operating mechanism, filed by me August 10, 1932, Serial No.628,l24, and now Patent Re. No. 20,287 issued Mar. 9, 1937.

In elevating liquids from a well, and particularly when the liquids aredrawn from a great depth, such as occurs in an oil well, it is necessaryto provide a well pumping mechanism which will have means for automaticcompensation of variation occurring on the downward or idle stroke ofthe structure and upon the upward or working stroke of the pump. Indevices of this type it is usual practice to actuate a pump plungermechanism within the fluid of the Well by means of a pump rodwhich is'operatively connected to a rocking beam, and with which beam a pumpingmechanism is associated. The rocking beam must under'normal conditionsbe disposed with its free end in a position of vertical that otheroperations might be carried on in thewell. It is the principal object ofthe present invention to provide a pump mechanism of a desired structureto apply power to the rocking beam on the up stroke and to compensatefor the weight of the well rods and the pumping mechanism on the downstroke, said power applying and compensating mechanism being of aflexible character so that the entire pumping structure may be readilypositioned in operative relation to a well, or readily displaced fromsaid position without necessitating the dismantling of the structure ormechanically rearranging the parts thereof. I The present inventioncontemplates the provision of a pump structure which is power driven andincludes a rocking beam, a pivotal mounting for an end thereof, a fluidcounterbalanceimeans adjacent the free'end thereof, and power applying-means intermediate said counterbalance means and pivotalmounting andconnected with the driving means, the various elements beingarticulately connected together and to a base whereby the entirestructure may be bodily shifted from an operative to a non-operativeposition.

alignment above the pump casing, and under The invention is illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: I

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the preferred form of theinvention with parts indicated in dotted lines to disclose the positionof the various elements in a non-operative position.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation showing the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation showing themounting for one of the 0 braces of a frame structure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevati lon showing theconstruction of the Samson pos s.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view inplan showing the structure of Fig. 3 asseen on the line 5-5 thereof.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section through the ztructure disclosed inFig. 4, as seen on the line Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation showingthe frame structure mounting as disclosed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a view in sideelevation showing another form of. theinvention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l9 indicates a sub-framestructure here shown as made of I-beams upon which are mounted a pair ofparallel I-beams ll. These beams are spaced apart from each other andaccommodate an air receiver i2 which is in the form of a tank ofcylindrical section and which is secured rigidly with the I -beams I lto form a unitary base struc- 35 ture for the pumping mechanism. Crossplates it are secured to the I-beams H adjacent their ends to add totheir rigidity. Mounted upon the base structure, comprisingthe beamsIll, Hand the cylindrical container i2, is a power unit i4. 40

This unit is here shown as comprising a driven pulley i5 geared to asuitable reducing gear set not shown in the drawings, but housed withinthe case I6. This gear set drives a shaft l1 carryingv 45 a drive disci8. A crank pin I9 is secured to the drive disc and receives the lowerend of a connecting rod 20. This connecting rod extends'upwardly and isplvotally connected at 2| to a rocking beam 22. The rocking beam swingsin a vertical plane from a fulcrum pin 23. This pin is. secured insuitable bearings in the-upper ends of a pair of Samson posts 24, thelower ends of which posts extend downwardly along opposite sides of thebase unit and are pivoted to the subframe members In upon pivot pins 25.The disc I8 is shown at one end of the crank shaft I! in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. However, by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that a crankdisc I8 is dis posed at each end of the shaft l1 and that crank pins iiiare provided for each disc to accommodate connecting rods 20, one ofwhich is pivotally connected to pins 2| carried by a cross head 26extending from opposite sides of the beam 22. The beam 22 is also fittedwith a cross head structure 21 carrying the pins 23 by which the beam ispivotally connected to the Samson posts 24. Mounted at the outer end ofthe rocking beam 22 is a horse head 28 which is provided with a segment29 over which the reins 30 connect to a polish rod 3| by a cross headv32. Pivotally mounted upon a shaft 33 is a piston rod 34 which extendsupwardly-into a cylinder 35. The structure of the piston rod and thecylinder is more clearly,-disclosed in my Patent Re. No. 20,287

' entitled Well pump operating mechanism, issued within the cylinder toforce fluid through a central duct of the piston to a conduit 39,communieating with the air receiving cylinder l2, said conduit beingcontrolled by valve 39. Attention is directed to the fact that thecylinder 35 with its piston 34 and the piston rod 34 act to cushion andcounterbalance the vertical swinging movement of the rocking beam 22. Itis further to be pointed out that this cushion and counterbalancestructure is disposed between the point at which force is applied to therocking beam 22 and the outer end of the rocking beam at which point thepump load is suspended.

It will be evident from an examination of Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawingsthat the supporting action of the counterbalance structure and theconnecting rod 20 is variable. It is therefore necessary to constantlysupport the beam 22 from its rear fulcrum pins 23 and the cross head 21.This is done in the preferred form of the invention by diagonal bracemembers 40, which are pivotally secured to the fulcrum pins 23 carriedby the cross head 21. The lower ends of the braces 40, as particularlyshown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, are fitted with end members 4|,which receive pins 42 by which end members 4| are pivotally connected toshackles 43. These shackles 43 are in turn-pivotally connected upon pins44 carried by bearing members 45 projecting upwardly from the subframemember i and make it possible for the shackles 43 'to swing on the pins44 from the position shownvin solid lines in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in dotted lines in the same figure. and in the direction of thearrow a. The pins 43 and 44 are formed with heads as shown in Fig. 5,which makes it possible for the shackle members 43 to be readily swung.Disposed on top of the outer ends of the shackles 43 in the positionshown in Figs. 3 and is a block 46 carrying a clamping bolt 41. Thisbolt secures the braces 40 in their operative positions when'thestructure is pumping. The bolt and the blocks may beremoved when thestructure is to be disposed in a non-pumping position and will thusallow the shackles 43 to swing upwardly and over the pivots 44 to thedotted line' position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It will be evident thatwhen the braces 40 have been swung to their dotted line positions thebeam 22 and the Samson posts 24 will be shifted horizontally and willcause the free end of the rocking beam 22 to shift away from itsoperative position over the mouth of the well. The shackles 43 at thistime will cooperate with the brace members 42 to hold themselves in alocked position rearwardly of the fulcrum pins 44 without furtherfastening means.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, amodification of the structure previously described is shown. In thismodification the Samson posts 24 are fitted with footings 48 and 49.These footings are adapted to alternately rest'upon structural members54 and 5|, respectively. as the Samson posts 24 swing around a pivot 52.The posts 24 are held in their operative ,positions by brace rods 53which are fastened to beams 55 by bolts 53. It will be seen'that whenthe bolts 56 are removed the posts 24 may swing so that the footing 49will contact the member 5| and the weight of the. structure will holdthe pumping mechanism in a non-operative position.

In the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9. it will be'seen that a motor 51is supported upon a vertically adjustable motor base 58 carried by andbetween the Samson posts.24, and that it drives a gear unit 59 through asuitable driving means 60, the unit being fitted with a driving sprocket6| engaging a-drivingchain 82 which is led around a sprocket 33 to whichthe connecting rods 20 are secured. In the form of the invention shownin Figs. 8 and 9, the air receiver I2 is disclosed as disposed beneaththe base structure of the apparatus and is equipped with an aircompressor unit 64 by which a desired pressure of airnis maintainedwithin the counterbalancing system.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1

and 2, a different compressor unit is disclosed as 1 indicated at 45.This unit forms the subject matter of a co-pending. application filedconcurrently herewith and entitled Compressor unit. This structure isgenerally characterized as including pitman 'rods 68 which are pivotallyconnected to the rocking beam 22 upon pins 31. The lower ends of therods are connected with a cross head" attached to'a piston rod 38' whichextends downwardly into a cylinder 69 and carries a piston I0. A pipe Hcommunicates with the airjreceiver l2 and supplies air under pressurethereto as the apparatus reciprocates. An air by-pass regulating systemgenerally indicated at 12 is used at will to compound the compressor85-.

In operation of the present invention the preferred form of thestructure is assembled as shown in Figs. land 2, and when so assembledthe brace members are secured in the positions indicated in solid linesin Figs. 1 and 3. In this position 'the fulcrum pins 23 of the rockingbeam 22 are shifted in a substantially longitudinal plane to and cushionthe oscillating movement of the rocking beam on the load and non-loadstrokes of the pump. The action of this mechanism will be directlyrelated to the pressure of the fluid within the air receiverlZ throughthe conduit 38 which establishes communication between the lower end ofthe piston 34 and the flow of pressure fluid to and from the airreceiver is controlled by the valve 39. The desired fluid pressure ismaintained by the compressor unit 55 which will act to make up andmaintain a desired set fluid pressure within the air receiver 42. Whenthe pumping unit is completely disposed in a non-operative position thebolts 41 are unfastened to release the shackles.

43 and to permit the shackles to swing on their pivots 44 in thedirection of the arrow a as indicated in Fig. 3, until they reach aseated and abutting position upon the upper faces of the structuralelements l0. As this takes place the Samson posts 24 will swing in thedirection of the arrow 2) as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and thepitman-rods 66, connecting rods 20, and

the cylinder 35, with its piston 34 and piston rod.

34 will swing similarly while the rocking beam 22 shifts horizontallyand recedes from its operating position over the mouth of the well. Inthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the same result will takeplace, although the structural details of the device are somewhatdifferent. In any event, it will be noted that-the entire pump structuremay be shifted readilyfrom an operative to a non-operative position, orvice versa, without requiring that any of the driving mechanism, thecounterbalancing mechanism, or the rocking beam and the Samson postsstructures shall be disconnected or placed in a condition which wouldrequire their reassembly or adjustment when moving from one intendedposition to another. It will also be evident that by repositioning. thebrace rods 40 or 53 and fastening them in place by the bolts 41 or thebolts 58 the entire pumping mechanism will be restored to its originalposition and will be ready for instant use. Attention is furtherdirected to the fact that in the form of the invention. shown in Figs. 1and 2 the air receiver and the structural elements Ill and H associatedtherewith combine to form a rigidbase unit which will properly anchorthe driving and operating mechanism and will firmly hold the pivotalmountings for the various oscillatingmembers.

The present pump means is concerned with a cushioning andcounterbalancing structure which includes a cylinder-35 receivingthepiston 34 and the piston rod 34. This rod is tubular and establishescommunication from the compression space in the cylinder to a receivingtank II. This communication is establishedthrough a connection leadingfrom the member 33 to the valve 39. The member 33 is co-axial with thepivotal axis of the piston rod 34 so that at all times communication isdirectly established with the receiving cylinder l2. It will thus benoted that the compression chamber within the cylinder 35 and thereceiving chamber will be in constant communication. At-

tention is further directed to the factthat the pump pressure unit 64communicating with the receiver l2 acts automatically to maintain theair in the receiving tank at a constant pressure. This insures thatperformance of the cushioning and counterbalancing mechanism may beaccurately set and controlled for any given conditions.

When it is desired to set the Samson post back it will be evident thatregulation of the exhaust valve in the line'from the receiving tank tothey .piston rod 34 will permit a relief of compression or suction inthe cylinder 35 so that the parts may be shifted and that when the valveis closed the closed pneumatic system will cooperate in holding theSamson post and walking beam in their retracted positions.

It will thus be seen that the structure here disclosed comprises acompact and rugged well or pump mechanism having means for suitablycushioning and counterbalancing the pump strokes and for supplying powertherefor, and which mechanism may be rapidly adjusled and firmlyanchored to maintain the parts of the structure in their operat veposition, and easily manipulated to dispose the pumpstructure in aanon-operative position without requiring that the pump structure bedismantled or disassembled in anywise while being moved from one of,said positions to the other.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, as now knownto'be, it will be understood that various changes might be made in thecombination, construction, and arrangement of parts, by those skilled inthe art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a well pump construction comprising a base, a post pivoted at itslower end to the base and normally rising vertically therefrom, a rigidbrace member pivotally connected at its upper end to said postand'inclining forwardly and downwardly therefrom, parallel spacedshackles normally resting flatwlse on the base and pivotally connectedadjacent to their rear ends to a portion of the base to swing forwardlyand rearwardly in a vertical plane, a bolt upstanding rigidly from thebase between the forward ends of the shackles by which the latter arenormally anchored in forwardly extending position, the lower end of thebrace member extending between the forward portions of the shackles andpivotally connected thereto to swing therewith, and normally positionedby its said pivot to bear solidly at its extremity against the base.

, 2. In a well pump construction comprising a base, a post pivoted atits lower end to the base and normally rising vertically therefrom, arigid brace member pivotally connected at its upper end to,said post andinclining forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a shackle-member pivotallyconnected at its rear portion to the base to swing forwardly andrearwardly in a vertical plane and normally lying flatwise on said basewith its forwardly extending portion securely anchored to a portion ofsaid base, and a pivotal connection between the lower end of the bracemember and the forward portion of the shackle member positioning saidlower end of the brace member to normally bear solidly against the base.

EDGAR W. PATTERSON.

